Recruit Ekmark survives and advances

It could have been the most important fast break of Courtney Ekmark's young life.

In March of 2011, a week after becoming the first freshman to earn Most Valuable Player honors in the Arizona state championships, the Saint Mary's High of Phoenix standout was wrapping up a family vacation on the island of Bora Bora in the Pacific Ocean.

On March 11, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit off the Pacific coast of Japan. A resulting tsunami caused widespread devastation along Japan's northeastern coast. A tsunami warning was issued for Bora Bora and an evacuation ordered.

"Our last night at about 4 a.m. there's a loud banging on the door of our hut and all we're thinking is 'What the heck?' " Ekmark said. "This guy spoke in broken English and he told us there had been an earthquake in Japan and a tsunami was headed towards us. We had five minutes to get our passports and pack a bag to get to a boat that would take us to high ground.

"I was freaking out. You're in the middle of the ocean. You grab some stuff and you run and you don't know what you're going to do. We got to the boat and we went to the main island and then we had to hike about a mile to get to the highest point so we could wait it out. You're watching the water rise and sink, then rise and sink ... You hope nothing will happen so you can get back home.

"I thought, 'Well, at least I go out a winner.' "

She can laugh about it now and not just because late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and his girlfriend were on the same boat. Fortunately for the people on the island, what started as a 30-foot tsunami had dissipated to waves by the time it reached Bora Bora about two hours after the Ekmarks were evacuated. The damage was minimal and the family was able to leave as scheduled later in the day.

Somehow, though, she knew it would be fine. Just ask what the first thing she put in her backpack was as they were evacuated.

"I grabbed a book," Ekmark said. "People make fun of this now ... But on the plane ride over I worked on an English project and I wasn't about to have it washed away. I didn't know if I could get away with an excuse of losing it in a tsunami."

No wonder she's the No. 1-ranked student in Saint Mary's Class of 2014.

"It is kind of crazy," Ekmark said. "But it makes you think about the bigger picture and you don't let small things bother you. I feel lucky and blessed that it all turned out OK."

Since, Ekmark's fast breaks have been limited to the basketball court for the team ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today.

Saint Mary's (7-0) will take a 47-game winning streak into Friday night's game at Camelback High. The reigning Division I state champion Knights will face perhaps their toughest challenge of the season next week when they look to defend their title at the Nike Tournament of Champions.

"We're playing well and we're on a roll and we're excited about playing in the Tournament of Champions," Ekmark said. "We always like to play the top teams. We always look forward to big games when we can be at our best when our best is needed."

To say that Saint Mary's is loaded is an understatement.

Sure the Knights have the University of Connecticut-bound Ekmark, a 6-foot guard rated as one of the top juniors in the country. They also have seniors Dominique Williams (UCLA), Danielle Williams (Michigan), Chantel Osahor (Washington), Brandee Walton (New Mexico State), and Chloe Johnson (San Diego State) headed to Division I programs.

They have won their seven games by an average of 42 points per game. No wonder they're looking forward to the Tournament of Champions.

"That's why kids come to Saint Mary's, to play in those kind of games," said Saint Mary's coach Curtis Ekmark, who is also Courtney's father. "We have kids that are very competitive and they want to play against the best. I compare it to the situation at UConn and that's why for Courtney it's the logical next step for her as she goes to the next level."

Courtney Ekmark, who made her oral commitment to UConn last May, is off to a solid start her junior year. Saint Mary's does not keep individual statistics as to emphasize team play.

But in the NGS Classic semifinals on Dec. 1, she had 33 first-half points before sitting out most of the second half of a 60-25 win over host Page. In the final against Chandler the following day, she netted 37 points in the Knights' 76-50 victory.

"It was a great experience going into a hostile environment (at Page) like that," Ekmark said. "They had thousands of fans there and it was a good test for us. It was fun. After the game we signed autographs for about half an hour. They're crazy about basketball."

Since Ekmark joined the program, Saint Mary's is 65-2 and was ranked No. 1 by USA Today at the end of last season. She has played with most of the Knights since they won an AAU national championship when they were 9.

"We have fun and I am so lucky to have great teammates," Ekmark said. "When things get tough we come together. Our team is unselfish and the best thing about our team is that we play as a team.

"We take things one at a time. It's pressure for sure. Every team is going to play their best against us and give us their best shot. We have to be ready to play, but we have high expectations for ourselves. It's pressure, but it's a lot better than having no pressure and not being any good."

While she spent the summer working on her overall game, Ekmark wanted to be a better rebounder coming into her junior year. Ironically, her dog is named Rebound.

"And she's ferocious," Ekmark said with a laugh.

So is her owner. Take one of her AAU games from this summer, for example.

Ekmark and the Arizona Warriors were in Washington, D.C. and faced a team from Indiana led by Notre Dame recruit Taya Reimer. During the game, Irish coach Muffet McGraw came into the gym and sat behind Reimer's bench to cheer her on.

"We were down three or four at halftime and we needed a spark," Ekmark said. "It was our third game of the day and we were tired. They were tired. You push through it. I hit a couple of threes, a couple of free throws. We won by like 10."

A couple of threes and a couple free throws actually added up to 27 second-half points in the comeback win. But let her father finish the story.

"Courtney sees Muffet behind the bench at halftime, turns to her teammates, and she goes, 'We're not losing,' " Curtis Ekmark said.

The coach, who played collegiately at Marquette, said his daughter has matured physically since the end of last season and that has aided in her improvement.

"She has more size, she's stronger, and she's quicker," Curtis Ekmark said. "Physically, she's kind of a late bloomer. When she was younger she would get by with her basketball IQ and smarts. Her physical development has allowed her to do more things and be a better player."

Her future teammates at UConn are on a break for final exams. The Huskies (8-0) play their next game Wednesday against Oakland (Mich.) at the XL Center in Hartford.

The time off allowed UConn coach Geno Auriemma to hit the recruiting trail. Among his stops was Phoenix to watch Saint Mary's practice.

"It was nice of Coach Auriemma to come by and to have him here was exciting," Courtney Ekmark said.

"Courtney feels it's a privilege to be going to UConn," Curtis Ekmark added. "Not only do they recruit great players, they play the right way. That's important to her."

Thanks to an experience that turned out well, Ekmark knows better than most what is important -- on and off the court.

Katie Lou Samuelson had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for UConn (27-0, 14-0 American), which led by as many as many as 32 in the first half and built a lead as large as 48 in the final period.

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The players give their best Auriemma impressions

Feb 21 | 8:49PM

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Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Parkland tragedy hits home for Williams

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A moment of silence was held prior to the start of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game with Temple Sunday to remember the victims of last Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

UConn All-American Gabby Williams was among those with her head bowed paying tribute. The tragedy hit home for the Sparks, Nevada, native as on Oct. 21, 2013, during her senior year at Reed High, a school shooting at Sparks Middle School left two people, including the 12-year-old perpetrator, dead and two others injured.

"It did happen minutes from my house, obviously not to the same extent, but it is just kind of like enough is enough, and when is something going to change," Williams said following the top-ranked Huskies' 106-45 win. "It hits home because I'm going to have kids who go to school one day and I have little siblings in high school so it definitely hits home."

Samuelson, Huskies keep rolling

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Temple Owls in the first half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Katie Lou Samuelson has this habit -- not one of her best, she admits -- of when she drives to the basket and feels contact, she calls out, "And one," looking for a foul call.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American's aggressive approach has developed since she first arrived here but she has taken her attack mode to another level in the last month even as she deals with an injured left ankle. It's one of the reasons that the buzz around her national Player of the Year candidacy continues to grow.

Samuelson's aggressiveness was rewarded Sunday as she completed a trio of the old-fashioned three-point plays to go along with four of her specialty, the 3-point shot. Her 27 points paced six players in double figures as No. 1 UConn routed Temple 106-45 in American Athletic Conference action before 13,110 at XL Center.

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UConn beats ECU, 84-80, despite Fleming's triple-double

Feb 18 | 6:24PM

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The UConn Huskies took on the East Carolina Pirates on the road and earned a narrow 84-80 victory, spurred by Jalen Adams' 26 points.

Connecticut put together one of its best offensive performances of the season. The Huskies needed it, because East Carolina's Isaac Fleming came up with another triple-double.

STORRS, Conn. -- Ten of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's 11 national championship campaigns included winning at least a share of its league's regular season title.

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Geno Auriemma discusses the most overused terms in coaching

Feb 16 | 7:27PM

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UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma discusses what he believes the most overused terms are while coaching basketball.

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On the Clock: Geno and Justine

Feb 16 | 5:40PM

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On the Clock: Geno and Justine00:02:09

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

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UConn lose 73-71 to Tulsa; Vital scores 20 points

Feb 15 | 9:50PM

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UConn's Christian Vital had a solid day earning himself a double-double, but the Huskies fell to Tulsa, 73-71, on Thursday night.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Sterling Taplin scored a career-high 30 points and Tulsa beat UConn 73-71, sweeping the season series from the Huskies.

Junior Etou had 15 points and DaQuan Jefferies added 14 for Tulsa (15-10, 8-5), which extended its winning streak to four on Thursday night.

Christian Vital had 13 of his 20 points in the first half for UConn (12-14, 5-8) when the Huskies built up a 12-point lead. The Huskies, who have lost five of their last six, led 40-31 at intermission.

Samuelson, UConn hold off Louisville

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Louisville Cardinals in the second half at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- Whether Katie Lou Samuelson can make a stretch run towards becoming the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's next national Player of the Year while dealing with her injured left ankle remains to be seen.

But it's hard to find many players around the country who are playing better than the Huskies' All-American guard is right now.

Samuelson gave UConn 40 minutes Monday night and scored 26 points as the top-ranked Huskies topped No. 4 Louisville before an announced sellout crowd of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion.

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No. 1 UConn wins 25th straight with victory over No. 4 Louisville

Feb 12 | 8:59PM

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The UConn women's basketball team defeated Louisville, 69-58, on Monday night to improve to 25-0 on the season.

Katie Lou Samuelson scored 26 points and top-ranked UConn used an early run to beat No. 4 Louisville 69-58 on Monday night.

Napheesa Collier added 14 points and Gabby Williams had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Huskies (25-0), who won their 76th consecutive home game and ended Louisville's 13-game road winning streak.

Louisville (25-2) scored the first three points and UConn rattled of 19 straight.

Dailey to be inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Connecticut Huskies associate coach Chris Dailey reacts during Senior Day before the start of the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The Geno Auriemma-coached 2000 United States U-18 national team was scrimmaging at Colorado College when Duke University-bound Alana Beard finished a stunning drive to the basket.

Auriemma blew his whistle and turned to where his assistant at the University of Connecticut, Chris Dailey, and Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt and her assistant, Mickie DeMoss, were seated in the small gym. They were watching as Team USA's roster included UConn-bound Diana Taurasi and Ashley Battle, and Tennessee-bound Ashley Robinson and Loree Moore.

He then looked over to Summitt and said: "Chris Dailey and Mickie DeMoss should be fired for not recruiting Alana Beard." Summitt nodded her head in agreement. They didn't get fired, though DeMoss did move on to other jobs. But this June they'll be together again in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dailey, the Huskies' associate head coach, is one of seven people who will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2018, it was announced Monday night. She will be the fifth UConn representative in the WBHOF joining Auriemma (Class of 2006) and former players Rebecca Lobo (Class of 2010), Jennifer Rizzotti (Class of 2013) and Kara Wolters (Class of 2017).

UConn, Louisville renew acquaintances

Feb 4, 2018; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz reacts to a play against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports (Rich Barnes)

For nine seasons, they faced off in February, March, or even April.

But when Louisville left the American Athletic Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, its women's basketball rivalry with the University of Connecticut that saw the teams play 16 times -- including two national championship games and three league tournament finals -- in those nine seasons went with it.

UConn beat Wichita State 124-43, two points shy of program points record,

Feb 10 | 3:30PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier scored 26 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 22 points to lead UConn to a 124-43 rout of Wichita State on Saturday in the first meeting between the two programs.

The 124 points was two shy of the program record, which was set against Providence in 1998.

Gabby Williams added 17 points, Azura Stevens 16 and Kia Nurse 14 for the Huskies (24-0, 12-0 American), who won their 75th straight home game, the third longest home winning streak in NCAA history.

In order to beat the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, you have to play them. Central Florida gets to do it as a member of the American Athletic Conference.

"Every time we play them, I think our team understands them more," UCF second-year coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said following the Knights' 55-37 loss to the Huskies at CFE Arena in Orlando Wednesday night.

AAC newcomer Wichita State will get its first experience against No. 1 UConn Saturdaywhen the Huskies open a three-game homestand against the Shockers at the XL Center in Hartford (SNY, 1 p.m.). UConn has won 86 consecutive games against first-time opponents dating back to a loss to Georgia at Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 15, 1996.

Travel-weary Huskies ready for home cooking

Gary Apple and Kara Wolters break down the highlights from the UConn women's basketball team's 55-37 win over UCF on Wednesday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Katie Lou Samuelson passes up 80-degree weather about as often as she passes up an open 3-point shot.

But the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American and resident California girl was content to trade a warm winter night here for a wintry day in New England if it meant not getting on another plane for almost two weeks.

The top-ranked Huskies wrapped up another trip Wednesday night as Samuelson had 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a 55-37 American Athletic Conference win over Central Florida before an announced pro-UConn crowd of 6,155 at CFE Arena. They then headed home where winter and the first three-game homestand of the season awaits.

Huskies ride Williams' winning ways

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Gabby Williams has a unique way of filling a stat sheet, but has never been concerned about her numbers.

The All-American senior forward does make one exception and that's for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's win total. She has been part of 134 of them heading into Wednesday's American Athletic Conference contest against Central Florida at CFE Arena (SNY, 7 p.m.).

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On the Clock with Geno and Justine

Feb 6 | 5:00PM

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On the Clock w/ Geno and Justine00:02:06

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

Huskies' offense thrives at the pass

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse reacts after her basket against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- For the first time in program history, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team began a season with four 1,000-point scorers.

They didn't do it on their own.

Seniors Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams and juniors Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson have combined for 5,736 points as Huskies. The foursome tacked on 79 to their total Sunday as No. 1 UConn rolled past Cincinnati 106-65 in American Athletic Conference action before 12,342 at XL Center. They also combined for 23 of the Huskies' 32 assists. Williams reached the 400-assist plateau Sunday, three days after Nurse got there against South Carolina.

UConn handily defeats Cincinnati, 106-65

Feb 4 | 4:24PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier says she's proud of the fact that UConn never plays down to the level of its opposition.

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Huskies looking for another growth spurt

By Carl Adamec | Feb 3 | 5:36PM

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Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Katie Lou Samuelson made her first and only shot, a layup, when the University of Connecticut women's basketball team beat South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena her freshman year.

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UConn stays close with no. 8 Cincinnati, loses, 65-57

Feb 3 | 2:30PM

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UConn men's basketball saw great performances from Jalen Adams and Christian Vital, but the Huskies fell short against Cincinnati.

You can count one of the program's former rival coaches among those thinking Cincinnati can be a real factor come NCAA Tournament time.

"I think they've got an outstanding team that could get to the Final Four depending on who they play, the health, and if they bring their 'A' game," former Xavier coach and current CBS Sports Network radio analyst Pete Gillen told the Cincinnati Enquirer this week.

"You need a player that can make a big shot down the stretch," Gillen said. "I think Jacob Evans can do that. Gary Clark can do that. Usually those last games tend to be low-scoring. Coaches get a little conservative. You need guys that can put it on the deck and create. That, and great defense. Defense travels on the road and in your tournaments."

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Nurse's layup line not that easy

By Carl Adamec | Feb 2 | 11:00PM

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(Jonathan Dyer)

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- There are times that Kia Nurse makes 3-point shots look like layups.

But how the senior guard looks on layups has UConn coach Geno Auriemma wanting to pull some of his hair out.

"Kia explodes to the basket but the ball comes off her hand like at her palm," Auriemma said Thursday night. "I'm like, 'You're on the (Canadian) Olympic team and that's how you shoot layups?' "

Huskies have no problems with South Carolina

By Carl Adamec | Feb 1 | 10:55PM

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Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Having played here two years ago as a sophomore, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's senior All-American was confident she and her fellow upperclassmen with experience here could handle anything reigning national champion South Carolina and a sellout crowd of 18,000 could throw at them.

The Huskies opened things up early to lead 53-24 at the half on their way to a 21-0 start for the fourth time in five seasons. They extended their NCAA mark with their 48th straight road win and, if anyone needed more evidence, marked themselves the clear favorite for another NCAA title.

No. 7 South Carolina (18-4) fell to 0-6 all-time against UConn and 0-15 in program history against No. 1 teams.

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No. 1 UConn challenges national champion South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- On Jan. 3, 1998, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team was welcomed by 24,597 orange-clad fans to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The 84-69 loss to Tennessee marks the only time in program history the Huskies have played the reigning national champion on the road.

That will change.

A crowd of 18,000 is expected here Thursday night as 2017 national champion and No. 7 South Carolina entertains top-ranked UConn for a non-league showdown at Colonial Life Arena.

Megan Walker had the best seven-day stretch of her young career with the University of Connecticut women's basketball team and she was rewarded for it on Monday.

Walker was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week for the first time. In league wins over Memphis and Tulane she averaged 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Her week-long surge actually began on Jan. 21 when she had a season-high 22 points to go with six rebounds and five assists over 32 minutes in a 113-57 win at Temple. She then had 10 points and six rebounds in the 93-36 victory at Memphis last Wednesday. Then on Saturday against Tulane at Gampel Pavilion, she had 13 points and two assists in a 98-45 triumph...

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UConn blown out on the road by Temple

Jan 28 | 10:20PM

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The UConn men's basketball team continued their struggles Sunday night, falling to Temple, 85-57.

Huskies earn high marks off the court

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse after the game against the Memphis Lady Tigers at Elma Roane Field House. (Justin Ford/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The University of Connecticut women's basketball team shot a near-school record 72.2 percent from the floor Saturday in its 98-45 American Athletic Conference win over Tulane at Gampel Pavilion.

But the Huskies were even better when it came to being represented Thursday at "3.0 night" during halftime of the UConn-SMU men's game. Nine players on the 12-player roster (75 percent) were among the 361 student-athletes honored by UConn's Division of Athletics.

STORRS, Conn. (AP) Katie Lou Samuelson scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half to lead UConn to a 98-45 rout of Tulane on Saturday and a 20-0 start to the season for the 11th time in program history.

Kia Nurse scored 14 for the Huskies (9-0 American Athletic Conference) and tied a career high with seven rebounds.

UConn had six players in double figures for the sixth time this season.

UConn confirms NCAA investigation of men's basketball program

Jan 26 | 8:13AM

Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie yells towards his players during the second half of the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at the Reynolds Center. (Brett Rojo/USA TODAY Sports)

The University of Connecticut confirms it is the target of an NCAA investigation into its men's basketball program.

University President Susan Herbst, in a statement released Friday morning, says the school is committed to "a culture of compliance" and intends to fully cooperate with the investigation in a "thorough and transparent manner."

UConn (19-0, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) trailed only briefly in the opening minutes before beating Memphis for the ninth time overall and second time this season.

The Huskies routed Memphis 97-49 when the Tigers visited Dec. 31. The venue changed, but not the final result with UConn winning in a more smothering fashion despite coach Geno Auriemma pulling all but one starter in the third quarter. The Huskies held Memphis to fewer points in each of the first three quarters.

Dangerfield, Huskies head to Memphis

The opening minute of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game at Temple Sunday seemed more like the 41st minute of Thursday's game against Tulsa as the Owls scored the first six points.